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Any old timers on the board who could provide insight into what it feels like to win a game and advance in the Big Dance? I've never experienced that feeling in my life, and I'd like to before I die. This is a serious question, not a swipe at our basketball program. March Madness is my favorite sporting event all year, but it's also extremely despressing. I'd love to hear about the excitement back in the early 70s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesse james

Funny - we have made the Sweet 16 three times, but we have only won two NCAA tournament games . . . ever.

It is an absolutely ridiculous thing to contemplate - our futility in college basketball.

Cheer up, guys. Frank is getting this train on the right tracks. Looking back and seeing just how long it's been since we even had a shot at winning a Tourney game and it's obvious to me that we are that much closer to living the dream. Look how long it had been since we won a SEC road game before this season. Now, look how long it had been since we won a SEC Tourney game...you get what I'm saying? Frank has a good track record in the NCAA's and he's not going to be denied another chance in Columbia. It's coming. Let's support this team 24/7 for 365 days a year and we will smell success and get that elusive Big Dance victory(s).

Next year every game will be huge, especially the OCC schedule. If we can win 10 games before the SEC schedule including a win over a top 25, I think we'll have a good shot of making The Dance in 2015.

^^^ especially if SEC basketball continues having a good showing in this year's dance, maybe the conference will get more than 3 teams in next year!!!^^^

That's what I'm thinking. If we can get in the top 6 we will have a chance. UF, KY and Tenn this year and UGA and Ark nearly made it. We beat UK and knocked out Ark. We also got knocked out of the SEC tourney by a Sweet 16 team(Tenn). I honestly think we are a lot closer than many of us think. A little more depth and star power and we'll be in the mix. Notice and Sindarious picked up a world of experience this year, not to mention Henry. The Lithuanians are going to be seasoned veterens next year, so it will be there time to shine and I think Carrera will emerge from his sophomore slump. If Marcus Stroman can give us valuable minutes as a freshman PG next year, we should be able to hang with anyone in the SEC next year.

What I liked the most about this past season was the players finally started buying into CFM's system. That's more than half the battle won right there.

The Gamecocks won four of their final six games. That was miles better than USC had been finishing seasons. In the previous four years, the Gamecocks had gone 3-8, 2-9, 1-10 and 2-9 in their final 11 games. This year, they went 6-5.

Sadly, even the great McGuire teams in the 70s didn't make any noise at tournament time. Of course, our best team (1970) went 25-3 and 14-0 in the ACC didnt even make the NCAA tournament because only the conference tournament champion got a bid to the NCAA tourney.

The NCAA changed the rule the next year I beleive, but of course we won the ACC tournement in 1971 and got a first round bye. We lost to Pennsylvania the 2nd round (which was the Sweet 16 back then, because the NCAA only took 24 teams).

We won our first round games in 1972 and 1973, but lost in the 2nd round (Sweet 16) both years.

We'v only been to the NCAA tournament 5 times since then (74, 89, 97, 98, and 04) and we lost in the first round each year.

They changed the rule in 1975. In 1974 the ACC had 3 teams in the top 5 at one time during the year. That year Maryland may have been the best team in country (it was basically NC State, Maryland, and UCLA above all others) but did not get to go to the NCAA (Very Similar to 1970 when South Caroling was a top 5 team all year)......

They changed the rule in 1975. In 1974 the ACC had 3 teams in the top 5 at one time during the year. That year Maryland may have been the best team in country (it was basically NC State, Maryland, and UCLA above all others) but did not get to go to the NCAA (Very Similar to 1970 when South Caroling was a top 5 team all year)......

I don't think you can claim Maryland as the best team in the country. They were definitely very good, but they got beat by NC State 3 times. Can't claim to be the best if you lose every game you play to the conference champ (both regular season and tournament) and that team happens to have won the NCAA championship.

1971 Southern Cal team helped get that rule changed too. They lost 2 games all year (both to UCLA) and got as high as #2 in the polls.